Explosive-engine.



G. M'ILNE.

EXPLOSIVB ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED 0013.28, 1911.

1,988,292, Patented Feb.24,1914,

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ture therein when in operation, The object of my invention is the production of means adapted to-eifect the coolingone ' snares PATENT ormon.

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- Sp ci 'icationof T-etters Patent.

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application filed October 28,1911. seriarmeisa'asa;

To all whom it may concern f Be-it known-that I, GEORGE Minna, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and. State of Illinois, have-' invented certain new and useful Improvements in Explosive-Engines, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to improvements in explosive engines and more specifically to meansfor cooling the cylinder. of anfexQ plosive engine or for reducingthe temperaof the cylinder walle by the reductionof the temperature "of the gases ther'einfand for Figure 1 is the side elevation of a conventional form of explosive engine to which is.

applied mechanism embodying my invention, the latter together with the upper end portion of the engine cylinder being shown in section, and Fig. 2 is a section taken on substantially line iv-a2 of Fig. .1.

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the drawing comprises a'substantially cylindrical chamber 1 which is formed integral with ,one head 2 of the cylinder 0 of the engine 4;, the latter being of the conventionalexplosive type; The up per and -lower ends of the chamber 1 are i-losed by screw plugs 5 and 6 respectively,

the upper end of said chamber communicating with the-upper .end of the explosion chamber of the cylinder bymeans of'a passage or port 7 the lattertc rminating within the chamber 1 in an internal cirrmnferential groove 8 for a purpose which will becomev apparent -as the description proceeds.

Communicating with the lower end porchamber.

tion of thelchamber 1 is a pipe 9 through the medium ofwhich water under pressure is supplied to said chamber, said pipe com-- m-unicating with any suitable source of water under pressure. The pipe 9 before reaching the'chamber 1 communicates-with;

an annular chamber 10 surroundin'g the ex haust pipe 11 of the engines With this 21'- rangement 1t Wlll be observed, that when the engineis in operation, the water passingthrough the; pipe 9' will be heated: in the chamber 10 by the exhaust pipe' before the same passes into the chamber 1. .Provided mthe pipe 9 adjacent the chamber" 1 is an adjust-able checkvalve I2 adapted to regulate the supply of waterto said chamher and also to permit of the flow of water in the pipe only in a direction toward said The passage 7 leading from thechamber 1 to the engine cylinder is governcd'by a sliding valve of peculiar construction which is mounted in the chamber 1. This valve is of two-part construction comprising an up per tubular or sleeve portion 13 and a lower substantially cylindricalor plug portion l l. The upperend portion of thepart 14 which is reduced telescopes within the lower'end of the part 13 as shown, it being freely slidable therein, the opposite sides of'said end being cut away or flattened, as clearly; 1

shown in Fig.g-2 to afford passages-between the same and the adjacentinternal surface portions of the valve part 13. The parts 13 .and 14 are operatively connected by a transversely extending pin 15 which is carried in.

the upper end portion of the part it, the respective extremities of said pin slidably engaging elongated slots 16 provided in the opposite sides of the part 13, the length of said slots evidently determining the amplitude of relati\temovement afforded the valve parts. The upper end portion of the chamber 1 tapered downwardly as shown and the; adjacent portion of. the valve part 13'is corresponding-1vformed so that when said valve part is at its lower terminal of move-v ment the same will be adapted to snugly seat in said portion of said chamberto etlectually .close comnmnication between the chamber 1 and the passage 7 or with the annular groove 8 thereof. Communication between the chamber 1 and the passage 7 is established ,fwhen thevalre part 13 is at its upper-termiual'of movemenh'radial openings 17 provided insaid valve part 13 being adapted,

when said part is thus positioned, to register with the adjacent end of the passage 7 and the groove 8.

El'evationor upward movement of the valve part 13 is efiected through the medium ofvalve part 14, an inclined annular shoulder 18 of the part 14 being adapted to 1 engage the correspondingly formed lower end of the part 13 so that, when the part 14 is elevated in the [manner hereinafter set forth, the same after moving a short distance, will engage the lower end of the part 13 to move the same upwardly inthe desired manner, The inclined shoulder 18,'how'ever, constitutesa valve and the correspondingly v formedend 19 of the part 13 its seat so that when said shoulder or valve 18 engages the end or seat 19 a tight connection will be effected which shuts off communication between the upper and lower ends of the chamher 1. A packing 20 is preferably arranged in the exterior surface of the valve part 13 for engagement with the adjacent surface of the chamber 1 to insure a positive closing of communication between the opposite. ends of said chamber when the valve 18 and seat 19 are in closed position as set forth. With this arrangement -it will be observed that upon upward movement of the valv'eparts 13 and 14:, communication between the chamber 1 and the 1 engine cylinder will be established and a partial vacuum will be created in the lower I end portion of the chamber 1. By reason'of the partial vacuum thus created water will be drawn into the lower end of the chamber v 1 into the annular space surrounding the valve part 14: when the latter is moved into the larger upper end portion of said chamber 1; the check valve 12 being adapted to be automatically opened by the suction created to permit of this'passage of water from the pipe 9 into the chamber 1. A

v packing 21fpreferably surrounds'the lower end portion of the valve part 1 1 to' prevent any leakage in this direction. 'Upon the downward movement of the valve parts 13 and 14, the valve 18 will leave its seat 19 to nected in the ordinary manner with the power shaft of the engine. It is clear that reciprocatory. movement imparted to the arm .22 by the cam 27 during rotation of the hitter will effect reciprocatory movementof the valve part 1 1, the latter in turn contacting with and moving the valve part 13.

In'operation the rotation of the cam shaft 28 will beso timed that upward movement of the valve parts to establish communication between the engine cylinder and the chamber 1 will take place just after the ex; plosion in the cylinder or at the commence ment of the power stroke. Some of the heated combustion generated in the engine cvlinder will pass through the passage 7 into the chamber 1 and there contact with the water contained in the upper end portionof said chamber. 1 The heated gases thus contacting with the water will effect the vaporization of the latter in the upper end portion of the chamber 1, the steam thus formed expanding into the cylinder and mixing with the gas thereby reducing the temperature thereof. The expansion of the steam first mentioned will counter-balance the reduction in pressure of the cylinder gases caused by the reduction in temperature thereof so as to maintain the pressure in the cylinder. The reduction of pressure in an engine cylinder caused by the cooling of the walls thereof through the medium of water jackets or other similar means which are generally in use 'at the present time is not compensated for in engines atthe present time and is lost. With my invention this -will not be the case since the reduction of the temperature in the cylinder will be ac-. companied by a corresponding increase in the pressure so that no power will be lost as in the case above set forth where coolin devices of ordinary construction are used: When the piston is near the end of its power stroke the valve parts 13 and 14 will be per mitted to drop by gravity to close communication between the engine cylinder and the chamber 1, said valve parts remaining in this position during the exhaust, intake and pressure strokes, thereby preventing steam from mixing with the charge until after the explosion takes place.

' In starting the engine it is not desirous of introducing steam to the explosion chamber thereof as will be. understood by those skilled in the art so that in starting the engine the lever 2 1 will be moved outwardly to withdraw the valve operating arm 22. When said arm 22 is in withdrawn position the cam 27 will have no efl'ect'upon the valve -so that the latter will, remain inert and hence communication between the chamber 1 and engine cylinder cut off. After start- ;ing of the engine the lever 24-will be moved to operatively position the arm 22.

The preliminary heating of the water of the pipe 9 in the chamber 10 is evidently of advantage since by so doing vaporization.

in the chamber lwill more readily take place. The introduction of steam as above set forth into the cylinder of the engine is noeaaea also of advantage in that the steam thus introduced will serve to keep the spark plug clean, preventing the deposit of carbon thereon."

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims: I

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire 'to secure by Letters Patent isz' v I 1'. The combination with an explosive engine, of a chamber arranged adjacent to and communicating with the cylinderof said engine, of a valve mounted in said chamber for controlling the communication between the cylinder and chamber; a water supply pipe communicating with the lower end of .said chamber; means for drawing water-into I the upper end; and means for simultaneously admitting hot gases from said cylinder to mix with the water in the upper part of said chamber, upon the operative stroke ofthe engine piston, substantially as described.

2. The combination with an explosive engine, of a chamber arranged adjacent the cylinder of said engine; a passage connecting the upper end of said chamber with said cylinder; a valve mounted in said chamber for governing said passage; a water supply pipe communicating wi Hi the lower end of Witnesses '3. The combination with an explosive engine,0f a chamber adjacent the cylinder of saidengine; a passage connecting the upper end of said chamber and said cylinder; a two-part valve mounted in said chamber for governing said passage ;'a water supply pipe communicating with the lower end of said chamber; a check valve in said pipe whereby when said valve is moved upwardly to openpesition water will be drawn into the lower end of said chamber, and whereby.

when said valve is moved downwardly to closing position, water vwill be forced into the upper end of said chamber, the parts of said valve forming a second valveadapted' when the said parts are moved upwardly to close communication between. the upper and lower ends of said chamber and when said parts are moved downwardly to open communication between said ends of said chamber; and means for eriodically operating said valve, substantia 1y as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE MILNE.

JOSHUA R. H. Po'r'rs, ARTHUR A. OLSON.

five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, I). 0. 

